Resolutely sinking....

Resolutely sinking.... (Full Version)

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wobbly -> Resolutely sinking.... (11/3/2004 1:10:17 AM)
Oh that norwegian is a whiley customer. he night port attacks Diamond harbour with a swag of Nells and Betties. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/01/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 45 G4M1 Betty x 43 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 6 destroyed, 12 damaged G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 22 damaged Allied Ships BB Resolution, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 3, on fire BB Revenge, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire BB Warspite, Bomb hits 2 Port hits 4 Apparently he saw a search report that had cruisers in Diamond Harbour and decided that this could be the location of my fleet - well he was right. My luck continues and he gets his third BB magazine explosion - sigh. Resolution is not so resolute - she goes stright to the bottom. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Trimcomalee, at 15,25 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Kongo, Shell hits 5 BB Haruna BB Hiei BB Kirishima BB Nagato BB Fuso BB Yamashiro BB Ise BB Hyuga CA Takao CA Atago CA Maya CA Chokai CA Haguro CA Ashigara CA Mogami CA Mikuma CA Kumano CL Nagara CL Natori CL Abukuma CL Kuma CL Tama CL Oi Allied Ships AK Lematang, Shell hits 3 TK Empire Norse, Shell hits 2 AK Empire Raven, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage TK Empire Onyx, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage AK Tjisaroea, Shell hits 1, on fire AK Poelau Bras, Shell hits 4, on fire AK Empire Bunting, Shell hits 2, on fire AK Empire Spray, Shell hits 3, on fire Allied ground losses: 562 casualties reported Guns lost 20 Vehicles lost 3 Airbase hits 6 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 30 Port hits 12 Another of these very powerful bombardments - as started in yesterday's AAR I had moved all of the planes out, and shipping takes some serious hits but being in port none of them should not sink. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 13,20 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 23 B5N Kate x 36 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val: 1 damaged Allied Ships AP Van Cloon, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage MSW Cuttack, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage AP Van Rees, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage Now this one was a double edged sword - I made the home base for this little group - madras. Unfortunatley i did not change its heading! So they sailed on and were caught by his carriers (which moved exactly where I thought they would - exact hex in fact - the sub there still does nothing). I'll discuss the the better side of the 'double edged sword' in a minute. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Colombo , at 14,24 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 21 B5N Kate x 47 Ki-27 Nate x 20 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 25 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 29 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val: 14 destroyed, 5 damaged B5N Kate: 31 destroyed, 22 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 1 damaged Allied Ships AK Soochow, Bomb hits 3, on fire AK Nora Moller, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage PG Auricula, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 24 casualties reported Port hits 1 Well this is a very stragne combat report - I did not understand it at all. On the replay the attack went from Sian to the city north of Sian. What actually occured was a bombing run against the shipping in port at Columbo. Obviously no Nates or Oscars have range to escort this and the bombers actually go up against my Hurricanes alone - they loose about 20 of their number. This is the other side to that sword. I think the raid against my wayward APs took the zero escort - the port bombers are the unlucky ones. It is unknown to me if the bombers would have been escorted if the carriers had more than one option. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 13,20 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 B5N Kate x 12 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AP Van Rees, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage AP Van Cloon, on fire, heavy damage They pay for being there again in the afternoon. both priceless APs sink -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So - may best laid planes seem to be of mice rather than men. The bane of my existence returns to lay me low - I wonder how safe the brits would have felt, in Scapa Flow, if the Germans had Betties and Nells? Boy o boy magazine explosions are devastating if they happen to Capital ships. PzB taunts me in his email/propaganda to come out and face teh firing squad like a man. he's right - now that he's found me there is nowhere I can go to escape, it is just how much damage I can do while I get beaten to a pulp. He floats the idea of me sallying forth, but these are BBs so it is not as if it is a fair shootin match - RN BBs versus the KB! So, I am a rat in a trap. He will slowly but surely smash the big boys of the bengal brigade. The only thing I can do is try to defend them as best I can. All the hurricane sqds, 1 wirriway and 1 lysander unit are heading to Diamond harbour. The AVG remnant are on their way back from China. The night fighters at Mandalay are based there for night attacks. 6 count them 6 artillery regiments are moving to the base to try and make bombardments uncomfortable. The P-40s off the South coast of India will land and get operational - they may be ready in time to fly over the outcome unfortunately. I am going to loose planes hand over fist but alot of aircraft go into one BB, and if I manage to kill a few high level Naval pilots in the mix well good riddance to them. All I can say is Crap.

Andy Mac -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/3/2004 1:15:52 AM)
Ouch not pleasant only 2 months to go till you get Spitfires its a real pity you dont get more AA units to protect those BB's.

String -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/3/2004 7:41:15 AM)
I suggest you plan some ops in the south pacific with your carriers.. with the KB in bengal you should have a free reign

wobbly -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 1:54:08 AM)
Poor AVG - they just cannot get a break. Andy: I can't wait to have some fully capable fighters mate - phew can't wait. however, their range is still awful and it is range I will need to LRCAP retreating Naval units. String, you are a mind reader - read future plans after the combat report. Trouble is - if you and I have thought of it then PzB will have too. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/02/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 108 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 18 Ki-21 Sally x 62 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 8 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied ground losses: 25 casualties reported Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 15 PzB had a hunch that I would move the AVG back west. He manages to hit the same location that I move them to. He also happens to bring half the zeros he has under his command. My P-40s continue their awful showing and loose 8 of their numbers without hitting a single enemy - the AVG is down to 8 planes. THis is a pointless remnant and will be incorporated into the new P-40 sqd as soon as I can get them to land in Ceylon. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78 Allied aircraft CW-21B Demon x 9 Brewster 339D x 3 Hudson I x 16 B-17E Fortress x 60 No Allied losses Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 2 A bombing raid of one of the islands North of Oz. Of the 60 B-17s that took part 16 are now listed as damaged!!! That is rubbish - there was no adequate flak at 20k altitude and the range was 6 - miles inside the B-17s normal range. There is no way you can fly these guys more than 1 day per week if this is how they are affected. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The hurricane sqds are on their way to bangladesh but they do take a fair amount of time to get there if you don't use rail. It is difficult to ascertain whether he is gunning for the remains of the fleet or not. With the numbers of zeros he has at Rangoon he can wipe the skies of Hurricanes anyway. I admit the wish to bug out of this rat trap is getting unbearable - the "better the devill you know" birdie on my shoulder is loosing it's power of persuasion and I am starting to feel I could make a bid for freedom. The biggest problem with this is the Subs along the main route and the lack of fighters with range to LRCAP the TF. It is completely up to his carrier fleet. If they decide to park off the coast of course I won't be going anywhere - the subs I will chance. If he does bring the carriers in there is so little I can do - although a plan is hatching - bwork bwork! The Americal Division may be landing at Lunga rather than moving to Port Moresby. He has none of his fleet carriers in the South Pacific and I have 5. His little carriers - including the Junyo and Hiyo now (maybe) are still not adequate deterence to the operation. What is more is the lack of base units to truely make Lunga dangerous, and the lack of a base at Luganville - the trip to Noumea is long. I do need to show him that he can't concentrate his naval power in one space without being hit in the other though. All of the surface ships that could upgrade have done so and I have sent them out to repair locations to get rid of the damage. The Maryland is the first pearl harbour veteren to get an upgrade and return to the fight.

rogueusmc -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 2:20:14 AM)
I tell ya...I'll keep the Tomahawks alot longer now knowing the Warhawks have a shorter range by TWO HEXES!!!

RAM -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 3:59:34 AM)
I've left this AAR unattended for a long time, around 2 weeks. I haven't still read the japanese part of the AAR since then...so I can comment on this part of the story without fear of letting some kind of hindsight making me slip some info I shouldn't, as I simply have no idea of what's going on over there :D. so here goes my advice. Ok, after reading all the posts you made from the point I last left the AAR seems that you have been caught by complete suprise, and in a very brilliant way (seems Pzb knows what he's doing :)) at the Bay of Bengal. There is a dark dark night ahead of you while the japanese CVs sit around... quote: ORIGINAL: wobbly It is completely up to his carrier fleet. If they decide to park off the coast of course I won't be going anywhere - the subs I will chance. If he does bring the carriers in there is so little I can do - although a plan is hatching - bwork bwork! I don't know what he will do, but if I was in his pants I won't let the prey go away once it's in my teeth. If I know where the enemy is docked and I know he's got pretty poor or no defences to stop my attack (and actually you haven't got any worth of mention and I guess he knows it) I simply drop the hammer and smash everything I can as fast as I can do- then withdraw in blitz fashion "come-hit-hit-hit-run". You still got your big boys at port. He knows which port it is where they are. If I was him, I'd hit you with all the KB. I'd set Naval strike with port attack as secondary, and unleash all the power of my air strike complement. When it's gone, there will be hell in earth at that port. Summing up: If PzB attacks your harbor (and I would do it), if you sail with the fleet you're dead. If you stay at port, you're dead. It's a worse-or-worse scenario, as both your choices are terribly loaded against you. At this point I would not worry about what choice I make. The outcome of both choices is devastating vs you no matter what. So don't get fixated of what're you gonna do because basically whatever you do you're going to get hit. And bad. What would I do if I were in your place?...well, other than ask for terms (;)), I'd try to save whatever I can save. Diamond harbor is in range from his land based naval bombers AND KB. If they're found at open sea trying to flee they will be (probably) in range of KB, but (probably) not of his land based bombers (at least not not at their "normal range", and naval bombers without torpedoes aren't as worrying, so...) I'd get whatever I can gather, put it at full speed and get the heck outta there as if there was no tomorrow. And possibly for them there will be no tomorrow but, hey at the port there is LESS tomorrow, isn't it? ;). quote: The Americal Division may be landing at Lunga rather than moving to Port Moresby. He has none of his fleet carriers in the South Pacific and I have 5. His little carriers - including the Junyo and Hiyo now (maybe) are still not adequate deterence to the operation. What is more is the lack of base units to truely make Lunga dangerous, and the lack of a base at Luganville - the trip to Noumea is long. I do need to show him that he can't concentrate his naval power in one space without being hit in the other though. I'm an over-agressive player, and I like this approach. However, if Rabaul has got Betty daitais based there I won't take it. If you get one or two of your CVs seriously hit by betty torpedoes you're gonna have a hard time later when the KB comes back. if there's no betty at Rabaul, it's a good idea. However, I'm under the impression that he hasn't got that big a bunch of land troops sitting around at Lunga, and a full division seems to be a bit overkill. If you find yourself stuck later, you might lose all of it, and that would be a BIG hit for your ability to put a fight on the SW Pacific on later stages. Have you got something lesser in forces around there?. if I've assessed the situation right and he has got only a token force at Lunga , a Regimental Combat Team would suffice for the job, and is much easier to evaquate that a full-fledged division if the going gets rough. Also, remember that there seem to be carriers around that zone. Maybe the KB is nearby Ceylon, but your air recce saw carriers near Australia only a couple turns ago...are you sure he's not waiting exactly to do that?. Maybe the KB raid on the Bay of Bengal was done on purpose to attract you to hit somewhere else...and "somewhere else" at this stage can only be the Solomons...I would go ahead with the operation, but being very very cautious all the time... Summing up: in the Pacific you can do something right now, but in the Bay of Bengal you're going to suffer a lot of losses until the KB leaves...no matter what you do. If you go ahead with the Lunga invasion you might force KB to leave the Bay of Bengal sooner than what he expects to, to attend the situation in the Solomons- and that's good for you. Unless he's anticipated exactly that and he's luring you into a trap- and that's bad for you (if you fall)... Just some thoughts, I hope you find them valuable...man this is like great-scale big-size chess trying to get into the other's mind to know what he will do.... I LOVE THIS GAME! :) OTW to check the other thread...so my lips are sealed again from now onwards :) [edit] quote: A bombing raid of one of the islands North of Oz. Of the 60 B-17s that took part 16 are now listed as damaged!!! That is rubbish - there was no adequate flak at 20k altitude and the range was 6 - miles inside the B-17s normal range. There is no way you can fly these guys more than 1 day per week if this is how they are affected. on the games I've played (so far only vs the AI) all the heavy bombers get a high % of "damaged" planes after each sortie...not sure why it is, but is as true for the B17s as for the B24s and B29s...maybe it's to limit them into flying once or twice a week only. Whatever it is, I agree with you, it's rubbish :P

wobbly -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 5:17:35 AM)
Rogue - absolutely right - the trick to the AVG seems to be, keep them flying the Tomahawks and don't let their numbers get too low: when I changed plane types I only ever managed to get to about 30 total flyable. This meant his zeros outnumbered me in a 2 or 3 to 1 basis and this seems to mean you get thumped. RAM - phew - that's a huge post - thanks for all the pointers. OK - I have kissed the Royal Navy goodbye. I cannot get them out unless I make enough noise elsewhere. My fighters cannot provide a deterent so it is up to ground based fire - this is why I have moved in as many units with AAA ability as I can, but in the end this is only to make it costly for him. While the KB is around I cannot move them. I have toyed with moving one or maybe two BBs to Changsha (there I go with the crap naming again - the base about 2 hexes to Diamond harbour's east - I may be right) just to throw him off - he is reconning though so it is actually a move closer to his bombers - sigh. As to the invasion of the Solomons - you are correct - the Americal is overkill - I actually have an RCT with the Americal!! They could do the business. What I really want though is a base force to come along (and while I am at it - a CD unit an engineer unit and some minelayers...). That really is the issue - it is a throw together invasion that will require follow up to be completed successfully. You also correctly state that there are CVs around, in truth I will sacrifice the RCT, transports and even a fleet carrier or two if I can lock horns with his little fellas and sink a few of them - he cannot afford to loose any more. I have sunk two fleet carriers and severely damaged a light carrier (a while ago now and thanks to the Dornier flying boats that put two bombs into the Zuiho, I think, getting it to sys damage 47 according to intel from PzB). He will have trouble with 5 US fleet carriers no matter what he wheels out - unless he can teleport the KB somehow - then I will be on the run - but that is the point isn't it: get the KB away from the Royal Navy! Next is the land based bombers. He holds all of the Solomons but only has troops in any number at Rabaul (I think he has a small base unit at Lunga). So Betties and Nells will have to fly from Rabaul with zeros at very long range. I'd keep the carriers out to the East or South of Lunga, LRCAPing the invasion. At this range the Naval Wildcats will be worthy adversaries. I have another TF of 2 BBs 1 CA a CL and 7 or so DDs with the Americal, so this would be the likely target of his bombers - that's fine by me. Finally - PzB is a very capable player - so he will get his licks in while he holds the hammer. In this case I was the creater of my own doom but I was restricted by the way in which things came about. I very much doubt my BBs would have made it from Madras to the West Coast of India in time to escape his full speed KB - I really did not want them caught at sea (which is why they are staying in port now!) Even if they had made it to a West Indian port, my first move, as the japanese (after finding Ceylon empty of my target), would have been to move on up theWest coast of India looking for targets. Once he found my fleet I would have been no less 'in the deep end' (although I suppose I wouldn't have land based planes to contend with). Another point to make is the three remaining BBs are all below 20 sys damage after his raid! If it hadn't been for the magazine explosion the raid would have been far less effective. Also remember that was an attack against no fighter defense and now I have moved a swag of AAA toting units in that direction. I am sure I have lost the RN's big boys but I hope he pays to bring about their demise.

String -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 8:37:50 AM)
You could try a mid-ocean intercept with some of your ships there.. they're gonna go down anyway, why not bring some of the japs with you

wobbly -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 11:23:38 AM)
KB on the way String - because they are docked in a size 9 port, so really they need to be hit in the magazine to be sunk. He is going to hurt many of my ships but will have trouble sinking them. At sea they are garanteed to go down. I also cannot LRCAP tehm at sea. No this way he will pay to sink them. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/03/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 9 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged He tries to cover all bases by hitting both harbours - there are targets at both but no luck in Chandpur. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 9 G4M1 Betty x 15 Allied aircraft Blenheim IF x 9 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 9 damaged G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged Allied aircraft losses Blenheim IF: 1 damaged Allied Ships BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 1 CLAA Columbo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 12 casualties reported Port hits 1 More luck in Diamond harbour again. However, having a few night fighters seems to put the aim off so not quite the same carnage. This time the 800lb bomb bounces off the Ramilles but the other one smashes the Columbo - she is at 52 sys damage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 27 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 35 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 14 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged I loose 8 hurricanes but they do manage to knock down 3 tojo and 2 oscars, the zeros are as invincible as ever. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 41 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged Allied ground losses: 12 casualties reported Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 4 He is aiming to put Mandalay out of commission as he has moved upon my troops holding the rail line north of Rangoon. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78 Allied aircraft CW-21B Demon x 9 Brewster 339D x 4 Hudson I x 15 B-17E Fortress x 44 No Allied losses Runway hits 7 Continuation of training for the Darwin wings - experience is crawling up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 93rd Chinese Division, at 29,33 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 5 Ki-21 Sally x 22 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 70 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Ouch -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 1st Burma Brigade, at 29,33 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 32 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 116 casualties reported Guns lost 2 and double ouch - he has started to hit my troops - this will continue until I run away or get forced away. The troops have very good fortifications though. Morale is a bit poor however most at about 50 other then the Aussies at 75. How do you increase morale? The Chinese never seem to get any better than 35 or so. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 56,96 Allied aircraft Beaufort V-IX x 3 Allied aircraft losses Beaufort V-IX: 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Akatsuki Now I don't know what this is - this DD is south of Gili Gili - why go there? He may be lining up to bombard PM - he has alot of mines to contend with 810 in the harbour. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 57,91 Allied aircraft Wirraway x 13 Hudson I x 4 Beaufort V-IX x 8 P-40E Warhawk x 34 Allied aircraft losses Wirraway: 1 damaged Beaufort V-IX: 2 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged Japanese Ships ML Takashima, Shell hits 16 CL Katori, Shell hits 4 ML Yaeyama, Shell hits 8 ML Hoko, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage ML Okinoshima, Shell hits 4 PC Shonon Maru #10, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Japanese ground losses: 400 casualties reported Guns lost 1 You could be forgiven for realising why he would want to bombard PM though - this is a mission from there against a fast transport group. I don't know where they were aiming but they will be a fair number of troops short. The Beauforts can be awesome if the target is undefended. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In india I have to move hurricanes by rail as they don't have the legs to get to Diamond point by air. The sqds in question won't be ready for defense for some time in this case. I split my bomber up all over the place. I imagine he will CAP his carriers heavily to begin and then try sweep missions. If I time it right I may be able to get a large anti-ship attack escorted by my 8 P-40s that could scare the carriers - if he takes a couple of hits he may just think twice about pounding me to a pulp. I now have 6 artillery unit and 4 units with 15+ flak rating in Diamond point. The flak already put paid to a couple of Betties last turn - that was in the dark. The Americal Div splits from the RCT and heads for Noumea. The RCT is off to Lunga. Spruance speeds up to catch the other carriers and a supply mission escorted by a CA and 4 CLs departs Noumea. Time to put the pressure on. In San Francisco the Maryland refuses to update - she is at 4 sys damage but shows a destroyed CXAM radar. This radar has never been repaired. Would this have something to do with her lack of upgrade? WE have also upgraded to 1.3 - Frag, could you do us that favour now?

Raverdave -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 11:41:59 AM)
810 mines at PM? Bah ! You should be shot for incompetency ! I have 3000 mines at PM in my game against the banananana.

WiTP_Dude -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 11:53:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Raverdave 810 mines at PM? Bah ! You should be shot for incompetency ! I have 3000 mines at PM in my game against the banananana. Do more mines increase the chance of a hit? Is there some limit or cap on this? I can usually lay about 1000 mines at a time if I want.

Raverdave -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 11:41:59 PM)
I have always assumed that it is a numbers game........and now with the hexes in WiTP being 60 against UVs 30, well the more mines you lay the better. I have had ports with 500 to 800 mines and the IJN sailed in and out without hitting one ! So now I sow them like there is no tomorrow.

Nikademus -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/4/2004 11:44:01 PM)
very true. I actually like this aspect given how easy it is to instantly sow a thousand + mines in one hex if you stack together a few ML's in one TF. When i first saw the kinds of #'s you could do in WitP i was intimidated to say the least....but now i've learned that just because a base has 900 mines doesn't mean an intruder TF is going to experience Gotterdamerung.

wobbly -> RE: Resolutely sinking.... (11/5/2004 12:55:08 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Raverdave 810 mines at PM? Bah ! You should be shot for incompetency ! I have 3000 mines at PM in my game against the banananana. Sorry master, I have been neglectful. I only have 4 DMs with 60 mines a piece in the area. Another large Mine laying Tf based in Pearl is doing the central pacific - they have the Oglala with them - good thing she survived the initial attack unlike the real war. She has tonnes of mines on board. So the fact I have 800 in PM means I have visited 4 times and that is while mining the ports up and down the Oz coast as well. Each run has to come from Brisbane and I've had the not inconsiderable hurdle of the KB waltzing up and down the Oz coast: they'd have drowned my Jumbuck for sure [:D] I will endevour to lift my game my benevolent benefactor [&o]

wobbly -> Akyab under the knife again (11/5/2004 11:33:12 AM)
The KB comes closer, Akyab invaded and PM reaches out to put a few bullets into barges for no discernable impact. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/04/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 8 G4M1 Betty x 9 Allied aircraft Blenheim IF x 5 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 4 damaged G4M1 Betty: 10 damaged Allied Ships BB Warspite, Bomb hits 1 Warspite shrugs this off without harm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 98 encounters mine field at Akyab (30,29) TF 98 troops unloading over beach at Akyab, 30,29 Japanese Ships MSW W.10 MSW W.8 MSW W.7 APD APD-39 APD APD-37 APD APD-35 APD APD-2 PC Shimushu Coastal Guns at Akyab, 30,29, firing at TF 98 179 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships ML Aotaka MSW W.10, Shell hits 3 Japanese ground losses: 129 casualties reported Guns lost 11 Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported The Japs put in elements of the 65th Regiment and neither my mines or land based guns do much to hold them off. I imagine the heavies will orll in there next turn and of course I can't do anytyhing while my ships are holed up in port - they are too far to make it in a 'die in glory' effort even if they wanted to. The KB has closed down all navla traffic. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 Ki-49 Helen x 17 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Catalina I: 1 destroyed Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 2 This is more interesting - he has bought some Helens all the way down to Lae. They bomb PM and knock out a priceless Catalina. He is trying to time my move of B-17s back to Lae. i imagine we will play a game of bluff - who moves when etc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 54,87 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 7 Allied aircraft Hudson I x 5 Beaufort V-IX x 3 P-40E Warhawk x 29 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 3 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged Japanese Ships PG Kaiun Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy damage AG AG-110 AG AG-364 AG AG-359, Shell hits 12 AG AG-102 A pointless naval attack - a few hits on barges for the loss of 5 aircraft. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 29,33 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 69342 troops, 791 guns, 30 vehicles Defending force 43274 troops, 374 guns, 0 vehicles Allied ground losses: 69 casualties reported Well here are the two battlegrounds of the future - North of Rangoon and Akyab. Both he will win - but it is all about slowing him down. Akyab is the more dangerous and the less defendable. I can't hope to stop bombardment groups from hitting the enclave. At the same time though. The blocking force at Rangoon will be stopping land based supply from getting to Rangoon - that doesn't stop him from shipping it in however. The further his BBs have to go to rearm the better. I was tempted to start flying troops and supplies into Akyab but I think he will be LRCAPing the place first. As you can see the number of troops north of Rangoon is not that bad a discrepancy. The quality will be massively different and to offset that I have fortresses. He ahs bought quite a few Heavy guns so it is bombarment to begin I think. He has also reconned the units across the river - now he know they are there - what will he do? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Akyab Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 4360 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 2564 troops, 106 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese ground losses: 5 casualties reported Well this is Akyab and you can see I am outnumbered in troops but looking good in guns - unfortunatley he has some pretty large guns baring down on me from the sea! Fortress level 3 before the place is flattened - supplies at 2 1/2K. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well it continues to happen around Bangladesh. I think he is in this for the long haul - Intel tells me an engineering unit is training to attack Calcutta. If this is the case he is probably looking to bypass Burma - it's a quagmire in there. In a few more days I get a swag of small engineering units - they should help in getting fortresses ready. With the KB on it's way I tone down the CAP over diamond harbour - I want to supe it up on following days rather than on the first. He is likely to try small bombing raids with sweeps to cull fighters first. I lower the CAP level of my fighters and send a transport off the coast to try and attract attackers - this is a foul trick but I am up against the wall here - it is on remote control alright!! Bombers are all standing down - I have spread them out to try and lessen anti-airifield attacks and if he tries hitting the planes at Diamond harbour themselves (with bombardment) he really does have alot of Artillery to face - nothing really large - biggest 6 inches I think but they should hurt any BB accompaniment. Oh sorry, there are a few Blenheim units hitting the Akyab invasion. My new P-40s get closer to Columbo - no subs strikes yet - can they make it??? Below the DEI subs continue to move the remnants of cut off units to Oz. This has greatly enhanced my air capabilities. The Lunga invasion force is close to its target - they will probably be seen next turn. In San Francisco 2 Dakota Units are loaded ready for their trip to Oz.

wobbly -> KB grounded by weather (11/5/2004 11:13:50 PM)
Weather saves the British fleet in Daimond harbour for one more day. THe Japs are on the move north from Sian. Air battles over Diamond harbour, Akyab and Port Moresby. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/05/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 8 Ki-48 Lily x 19 Ki-46-II Dinah x 3 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-48 Lily: 3 damaged Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 2 Sian is socked in so these flights come form Yenen. They are trying to close the airfield and doing a poor effort at the moment. At the same time the repairs take away from fort building. I am at level 4 and 60% at Kungchang. This turn some I-16c are flown in and one of the Hurricane sqds takes to the air. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 Ki-49 Helen x 13 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 22 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged Wirraway: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 3 More attacks from Lae. The Warhawks give better than they get loosing 3 but getting 3 zeros and a Helen. I am resupplying PM at the moment, the slow way, 1 transport at a time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 30,29 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 24 Allied aircraft Blenheim I x 10 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses Blenheim I: 9 destroyed, 5 damaged I actually said I knew he would LRCAP akyab but had missed a blenheim sqd on ground attaack. Only Akyab was in range and they go there. Seven are lossed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 7 Allied aircraft Wirraway x 3 Buffalo I x 5 Hurricane II x 3 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Wirraway: 2 destroyed Hurricane II: 2 destroyed This is a small curtain raiser on the losses I will endure from zero fighter sweeps - tomorrow likely. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Gili Gili Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 264 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!! Another well known bae falls to the advancing scourge - POrt Moresby is now alone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 29,33 Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 39767 troops, 377 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 84903 troops, 824 guns, 126 vehicles Japanese ground losses: 42 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Vehicles lost 1 The attrition battle North of Rangoon is a battle of artillery at the moment. No doubt I will be taught a painful lessen very shortly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Akyab Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 4376 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 2523 troops, 103 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese ground losses: 2 casualties reported Guns lost 1 A pretty ineffectual bombardment. I think they biggest issue here is going to be supplies. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alright. The KB is parked 3 hexes south of Diamond harbour. I am sortieing the undamaged ships at full speed towards Madras. They are travelling in twos and it is not impossible - if he doesn't move more than a hex that they will be out of range. The weather that saved me last turn is clearing today. My Hurricanes, moved by rail, are about half functional. They are not committed yet. The P-40s are moved to Madras and set to LRCAP the retreating surface units. My new P-40 sqd makes landfall at Columbo and should unload during the night. I plan to move any planes in the group out to Calcutta probably and disband the AVG into it. Akyab must hold as long as possible - I don't know how to do this however. I don't have enough of my other transport workhorse - the sub - up in this area. In China PzB is moving on Kungchang. He has revitilised his units as much as he required and is heading into the supply sapping trails. I want to try and use the new ZOC rules to restrict supply if I can. I still have quite a large army up there. It is mainly retreated units though so they are all very short of guns (having had them blown up). In Darwin more planes are added to the training mill. I imagine I will get a sweep mission from Lae again - he'll want to remove my P-40s. As I figured, he scouted my Lunga invasion. I set 1 sqd of dauntlesses to bomb the port and 1 to hit the airstrip (along with the devastators). THe BBs are going in to bombard and I have set one sqd of Wildcats to defend them. 1 APD with 180 men is heading to tassafaronga to take that. Spruance is still closing on the other carriers. I want to appear weaker than I am - hence only attacking with the compliment of one carrier.

wobbly -> diamond harbour smashed (11/6/2004 10:45:36 PM)
The War just got turned back on in a big way! Ridiculous bombardment outcome in Diamond harbour, then KB smashes the BBs. Lunga bombardment is hit by Nells and Betties. Kangchung is hit by lillies but the chinese AF with hurricanes does very well in repeling the invaders. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/06/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 27,24 Japanese Ships SS RO-60, hits 1, on fire Allied Ships CA Dorsetshire DD Whipple My escaping surface units meet a sub - in this case the sub comes out second. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat at 28,24 Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Fuso BB Yamashiro BB Ise BB Hyuga CA Chokai CA Haguro CA Ashigara CA Mogami CL Nagara CL Natori CL Abukuma Allied Ships AK Derrymore, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk Very strange one. THis was my remote control target ship for his naval bombers. His incoming bombardment force smokes it. Now they intercepted this on the way through a hex - is this a new capability? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Chandpur, at 30,25 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Dakota I: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged 39 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships CL Oi CL Tama CL Kuma CA Kumano CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2 CA Maya, Shell hits 5 CA Atago CA Takao BB Kirishima, Shell hits 4 BB Hiei BB Haruna BB Kongo Allied Ships DD Ellet, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Alden, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Parrott, Shell hits 1 CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1, on fire Allied ground losses: 72 casualties reported Guns lost 7 Vehicles lost 1 Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 5 Port hits 1 Next door in Chandpur another bombardment force strikes. My other surface units are hurt in it. All ships hit are quite badly damaged. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97 Allied Ships BB Mississippi BB New Mexico Japanese ground losses: 119 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 1 Port supply hits 2 Both Lunga battleships bombard - now check out this bombardment compaired to what we'll see in a second. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1078 troops unloading over beach at Tassafaronga, 66,97 Allied ground losses: 28 casualties reported THe first allied invasion is on a small beach base called Tassafaronga. The beginning of the long fight back starts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 22,22 Japanese Ships SS RO-34 Allied Ships CLAA Ceres, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Edsall Another of my escaping ships gets hit this time. The torpedo has done medium damage but the ship has made it to Madras. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Sian , at 47,29 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 3 Ki-27 Nate x 6 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1 Allied aircraft SB-2c x 37 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses SB-2c: 8 destroyed, 14 damaged Runway hits 4 A very abortive attack by my chinese bombers. They take a bit of a hammering. They are changed to night duty - attacking the same place. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 25 Allied aircraft Wirraway x 6 Buffalo I x 13 Hurricane II x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses Wirraway: 4 destroyed Buffalo I: 19 destroyed, 2 damaged Hurricane II: 10 destroyed, 5 damaged Well I knew he would do it but it doesn't make it any easier. Observers on the ground watch smashed allied planes flutter down. However, here and there a few zeros are mixed in with the allies. All units are smashed and I retire them to the other fields to recuperate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 42nd Chinese Corps, at 46,26 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 Ki-27 Nate x 27 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 27 Ki-48 Lily x 26 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 13 I-16c x 19 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged Ki-27 Nate: 19 destroyed, 2 damaged Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 16 destroyed Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 14 destroyed, 4 damaged I-16c: 14 destroyed, 7 damaged Allied ground losses: 23 casualties reported The I-16 and Hurricane defenders actually give as good as they get. It is not until the zeros join the fray that the losses really start to mount up against me. Once again my fighters refuse to engage the bombers - the lily lost is to flak. I don't know how to change this as the altitudes are right for intercept. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 1st Burma Brigade, at 29,33 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 67 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 63 casualties reported Guns lost 2 He is stepping up his attacks on my Northern blocking force. More enemy units arrive there today. He almost has 2 times my numbers now. I am thinking on sending in a fighter unit just to keep him honest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 D3A Val x 104 B5N Kate x 118 Allied aircraft Wirraway x 4 Buffalo I x 6 Hurricane II x 6 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged D3A Val: 4 destroyed, 39 damaged B5N Kate: 37 destroyed, 75 damaged Allied aircraft losses Wirraway: 11 destroyed Buffalo I: 8 destroyed Hurricane II: 4 destroyed Allied Ships CLAA Columbo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 18, on fire, heavy damage BB Warspite, Bomb hits 17, on fire, heavy damage BB Revenge, Bomb hits 16, on fire, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 579 casualties reported Guns lost 27 Vehicles lost 1 Port hits 22 Port fuel hits 6 Port supply hits 1 Kapow. THe KB unleash. All BBs are badly damaged. Ramilles is worst with 81 SYS damage the others are at 60 or so. Fires and flooding appear managable. My fighters are surprisingly more effective against the carrier based zeros knocking a few of them down. They are reduced to zero though and once again only one fighter fires on a bomber. The flak however, is murderous, 18 Kates and 4 Vals seccumb to it - with numerous others damaged. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Lunga , at 67,97 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 SBD Dauntless x 29 TBD Devastator x 15 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 28 casualties reported Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 2 Back to the south pacific and Lunga gets a taste of the hell he has been handing out to me. They stay on this duty again as the landings are taking place this turn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 G3M Nell x 18 G4M1 Betty x 13 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed G3M Nell: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed, 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 24 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships BB New Mexico, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DMS Southard, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 2 THe Nells and Betties want a piece of the action though. They fly in from Rabaul and plant Torps into the heavies. Neither are badly injured both are still in teh green in SYS damage but have 20 float. They retire to Noumea. Anotehr surface unit is 2 days out - he can time this correctly by sweeping in this turn - only DDs protect the invasion. I loose 10 wildcats but again they are effective against the zeros. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 Ki-49 Helen x 6 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 18 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships AK Rhesus One of my transports unloading in PM is targeted from Lae. The Warhawks pay for their attempted defense but the ship survives unhurt so... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Diamond Harbor, at 28,23 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged Buffalo I: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged Blenheim IF: 6 destroyed, 8 damaged Wirraway: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships CL Abukuma CL Natori CL Nagara CA Mogami CA Ashigara CA Haguro CA Chokai BB Hyuga BB Ise BB Yamashiro BB Fuso BB Nagato Allied Ships BB Warspite, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage BB Revenge, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage BB Ramilles, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 4034 casualties reported Guns lost 84 Vehicles lost 2 Airbase hits 36 Airbase supply hits 17 Runway hits 134 Port hits 1 Here it is - absolute rubbish - crap. Unbelieveable crap. The six artillery units I sent in don't fire a shot in the place's defense. There is a believable explanation in this: he bought no DDs and therefore stayed at a longer range, so I couldn't hit (again the sub problem means he can go places without DD support). It is the damage that tears my nighty though - of all the six artillery units only 1 has a single functional gun left!!!!!!!!!!! WTF How can that be? How can the BBs target every singel gun of 6 artillery units? Look at the added pic - every unit is like this one! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My escaping surface units made it to Madras but they wont stop there. The Ceres is too damaged to continue but the rest high tail it to the West coast of india - hopefully the DDs can keep subs at bay. I load Jashadapur airbase with bombers and the beginings of my warhawk and mohawk unit. All the bombers I have are there too - they are after the carriers or BBs - he has kept them all at the ports. There are one hell of alot of bombers in this. I think the good service teh fighters at Diamond harbour did may mean he puts more fighters on sweep. Therefore some of my bombers may actually make it to the carriers. However, he has smashed the BBs now - he may retire... In PM the B-17s fly in and are doing another night attack of Lae - they weather however is awful so it may come to nothing. The first kittyhawks arrive to do their duty. The landings at Lunga go ahead. I think I am light on the attacking units here. I only have one RCT - I see he has 5 units there - hope not too many are combat ones. My carriers under Spruance stoped to do a refuel so once again they are not on station. This throw together operation is starting to feel like it may go bad. Another Aviation regiment has made it to Noumea unmolested this time - phew. 270 avaition support for the place makes it potent at last. [image]local://upfiles/7787/Qo387983686.jpg[/image]

wobbly -> RE: diamond harbour smashed (11/8/2004 11:03:46 AM)
My training flights get hit by zeros. The chinese take a hammering. More bombardment of Diamond harbour and Port Moresby. Lunga invasion forces land. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/07/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34 Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged Japanese ground losses: 15 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 2 The B-17s in India fly their first mission. 9 zeros were lost this turn and only 2 in the air so the bombing is at least starting to tax his industry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Lae , at 54,87 Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged Japanese ground losses: 13 casualties reported Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 2 Another night attack on Lae gets more of the little pests on the ground. Normally I run adter this - changin in tactics with another night strike going in this turn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 60,88 Japanese Ships AG AG-364, Shell hits 2 Allied Ships SS Swordfish Thanks Frag for your attempts to remedy our allied sub doctrine on. Unfortunately we cannot get it changed as the 1.3 patch halt saving of these changes. However, the swordfish fights the odds and surfaces to hit a barge - I don't believe I can be grateful about this! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 14,23 Japanese Ships SS I-15 Allied Ships CA Dorsetshire DD Edsall DD Electra DD Stewart I-15 tries to hit the Dorsetshire as she continues to run from the KB - the torps miss. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Chandpur, at 30,25 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged 35 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships CL Oi CL Tama, Shell hits 6, on fire CL Kuma CA Kumano CA Mikuma CA Maya CA Atago CA Takao BB Kirishima BB Hiei, Shell hits 6 BB Haruna BB Kongo Allied Ships CL Marblehead, Shell hits 6, on fire DD Ellet, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1, on fire AK Illinoian, Shell hits 1 Allied ground losses: 36 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 21 Port hits 1 Port supply hits 1 The big boys roll into Chandpur and poor fire into the port. The ships take more hurt and surprisingly my CD units return fire - amazing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Diamond Harbor, at 28,23 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged Lysander I: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged Japanese Ships CL Abukuma CL Natori CL Nagara CA Mogami CA Ashigara CA Haguro CA Chokai BB Hyuga BB Ise BB Yamashiro BB Fuso BB Nagato Allied Ships BB Revenge, Shell hits 1, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 209 casualties reported Guns lost 5 Airbase hits 7 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 49 Another large strike of Diamond Harbour. My knew Lysander fighter bombers are all damaged on the deck. Lucky the KB had stayed away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Lunga, 67,97, firing at TF 1021 TF 1021 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 67,97 1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied ground losses: 244 casualties reported Lunga fires at teh landing troops - about half are on the beach. There are still 3 large APs to unload and they may take more than two turns to do so. 3 AKs with supplies are about 2 days out - as I say - this invasion is not exactly well thought out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 42nd Chinese Corps, at 46,26 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 21 Ki-48 Lily x 21 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 12 I-16c x 19 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 6 destroyed Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged I-16c: 16 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied ground losses: 36 casualties reported Guns lost 1 My Chinese don't do so well today - they fall foul of the zeros coming to the party. The Hurricanes are not exactly racing up the experience ladder either. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 2nd Burma Brigade, at 29,33 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 81 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 59 casualties reported Guns lost 2 I really wanted to do something about this with my new P-40 unit but they did not have the range. I need to get some air support to Pagan before this is a possibility. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 26,23 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 D3A Val x 7 B5N Kate x 6 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Forafric, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage My remote control target ship gets caught outside Diamond harbour and hammered by the KB which appears to be moving West. I think she may be about to bomb Madras. I suffer the same problem with this as I can't move the ships out or else they all just sink. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japanese aircraft Ki-49 Helen x 3 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 10 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed Allied Ships AK Murada An unescorted attack on my singleton AKs in Port Moresby harbour cause a Helen to fall into the sea. This is the debut of the Kittyhawk. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Lunga , at 67,97 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 15 SBD Dauntless x 30 TBD Devastator x 15 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 28 casualties reported Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 5 More strikes on the supply at Lunga. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 16 Ki-49 Helen x 4 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 10 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships AK Lycaon, Bomb hits 1 The Helens deide to bring backup in teh afternoon and the first Kittyhawk falls to the zero's guns. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Lunga Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 1519 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 2836 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles Allied ground losses: 2 casualties reported Well maybe I have not under done the attack. I have about half the RCT on the beach. The 5 units are all little buggers. I have to wait until I can get some supplies. Every day I wait more bombers line up to deal to the invasion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tassafaronga Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 118 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0) Allied forces CAPTURE Tassafaronga base !!! The beginning of a very long road back. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In India I move all of the Naval bombers that were situated at Jahadapur to Calcutta. the airbase went that ominous dark green showing I was massing there. Of course now Calcutta has that green tinge. He had to use bombers on both locations but that hasn't seemed to stop him before. I have made a fast transport mission of the DDs at Chandpur and they are resupplying Akyab. If my timing is right I may meet a fast trasnport mission on the way in - or it could be a bombardment mission and that will be that. If his carriers come back then the unanchored ships will go to the bottom. More night bombing of Rangoon is on the cards. In China the next phase of his expansion is unwinding and it is truely a huge effort. I am going to be crushed in no time. The only possibility is to try and cut off supply. I still have quite a large force of Chinese around but they really are so poor at fighthing that I have not really got the stomach for continuing it. Darwin continues to bomb despite the efforts of the terrible Dutch Demons. An Aboriginal shaman visited to purge the bad 'demons' from the plane only to walk into one of the spinning props! A more fitting hoax you could not find - the dutch pilots don't want to go near their planes. 4 of the injured ships in the battle of Lautern are retreating back to Brisbane and then Sydney to get some repairs done. Another surface unit puts to sea from Cairns built around 2 CAs and 4 DDs. They are going to sit off the coast of Oz with react on in case PzB tries to attack PM. The AK hit in the raids in PM is at about 47 SYS damage but unloading continues. PM now has 17.5K supplies. As stated the B-17s are flying again this turn. At Lunga alot of the men still have to unload. I had a thought that maybe PzB may try and intercept the retreating BBs he damaged so I have covered the likely route with the Lex and Enterprise. Both Carrier groups are on react. Many of the landing ships create a surface unit and retire to Noumea. The rest of the DDs, previously defending the BBs, attaching to the unloading APs while defensive duties are handed over to the CA and CL group arriving at Lunga this turn. Berringer and his carriers are moving slightly north of Lunga trying to catch retreating attackers. At Noumea a base unit is loaded on APs bound for Luganville - a new base is about to be born. They are accompaned by an AVD that will look after some PBYs. In LA my repairing DDs and other ships are coming along nicely - it takes them a long time to get back but they do repair rapidly.

EUBanana -> RE: diamond harbour smashed (11/8/2004 4:12:04 PM)
Don't ships in port have torpedo nets to stop those infernal Kates? You aint gonna sink Ramilles easy with 250kg bombs...

sveint -> RE: diamond harbour smashed (11/8/2004 9:37:05 PM)
You're doing good Wobbly. Normally I wouldn't state my opinion or give advice but I'm cheering for you here! Just some suggestions: -Pull out of Burma, it's not worth defending -Perhaps send all your carriers together to India (you're killing experienced pilots from KB every day and the Pacific islands can wait) -Consider transferring long-range bombers to interior Indian bases Good luck! Very much appreciate this AAR.

wobbly -> Allied happy time in the air (11/9/2004 10:55:53 AM)
Excellent day in the air for the allies. Lunga invasion gets some supplies. Akyab's days are numbered. EUBanana - yes you would think that torps might be stopped from hitting the big ships in port - especially once the allies know that is a Jap ploy, but we have to play with what we are given. HIs 250kg bombs still clean off AAA guns, but it is the torps and 800Kg bombs that do the real hurt. Sveint - plan is to fall back in Burma - what I want him to do though is cross the river into my troops. So an orderly retreat will happen soon. The point though is I am very well entrenched on the rail line, once I pull back he can go around me more easily. I am also trying to stay around to retreat teh 3 base units that demolished Rangoon when he took the place. They are 35 miles 'out' of their hex. As to the carriers - you have seen what zeros can do to wildcats all teh way from Rabaul to Lunga - well they do it again today. The KB still has very nasty teeth and they would like nothing more than to chomp on my carriers. When his are not around though I hold the ocean - so while I do it is a perfect time to take and build bases for the eventual attack. THere are many many medium bombers geting ready to move up to places like Munda - which would make Rabaul hell on earth! As always though mate - thanks for the advice - the Burma stuff is bang on my heading. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/08/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Lunga, 67,97, firing at TF 1021 TF 1021 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 67,97 8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships DD Walke Allied ground losses: 137 casualties reported The RCT is at 55 Fatigue - they don't appear to enjoy beach landings! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Sian , at 47,29 Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft Blenheim IV x 7 IL-4c x 3 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses IL-4c: 1 damaged Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 1 The night attacks are pin-****s but China is in full harvest mode for enemy ACs on this day - these are but the beginning. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34 Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 12 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged Japanese ground losses: 32 casualties reported Runway hits 4 Only 12 fortresses go as I am having issues with the morale - 49, but the bombardiers can be congratulated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Lae , at 54,87 Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 18 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 2 Not such a good attack on Lae. The B-17s stay again and this time go after Rabaul. I really need to land another base unit on PM - it has double the number of ACs it has support for. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 98 encounters mine field at Akyab (30,29) TF 98 troops unloading over beach at Akyab, 30,29 Japanese Ships MSW W.10 MSW W.8 MSW W.7 APD APD-39 APD APD-36 APD APD-35 APD APD-37 APD APD-34 APD APD-32 APD APD-2 Coastal Guns at Akyab, 30,29, firing at TF 98 173 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships ML Aotaka ML Shirakami, Shell hits 3 MSW W.10, Shell hits 10, on fire Japanese ground losses: 90 casualties reported Guns lost 6 More men from the 65th brigade are landed at Akyab. There is a huge fleet off the coast. Easily enough to take Akyab if that is the target. I am starting to think otherwise now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 19 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2 Ki-48 Lily x 20 Ki-49 Helen x 27 Ki-46-II Dinah x 4 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 20 I-16c x 8 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27 Nate: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-48 Lily: 18 destroyed, 3 damaged Ki-49 Helen: 7 destroyed, 9 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged I-16c: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied ground losses: 10 casualties reported Airbase hits 6 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 32 In an amazing defensive effort the Hurricanes, and to a lesser extent, the I-16c hammer the attacking Jap planes. With no zeros the Nates and for once the bombers get splashed. In total 10 of each lillie an helens fall today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Tenimbar , at 36,81 Allied aircraft Hudson I x 14 Beaufort V-IX x 15 P-40E Warhawk x 12 B-25C Mitchell x 15 B-17E Fortress x 38 No Allied losses Port hits 2 Port supply hits 6 My flying school has another target - no defense is a little easier on the aircraft. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 42nd Chinese Corps, at 46,26 Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15 Ki-48 Lily x 11 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 20 I-16c x 8 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-48 Lily: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 4 damaged I-16c: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported Oh dear - no stopping the hurricanes - they carve through the oscar escorted ranks of the attackers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 2nd Burma Brigade, at 29,33 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 78 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 21 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Still some serious numbers of bombers are taking on the entrenched troops north of Rangoon. Theya re still in very good shape though. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 14th Indian Division, at 30,29 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 69 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged Allied ground losses: 134 casualties reported Guns lost 3 This is far more worrying - a heavy attack on the Indian troops in Akyab takes heavy toll. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 28,29 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 8 Allied aircraft Blenheim I x 14 Blenheim IV x 29 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Blenheim I: 2 damaged Blenheim IV: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged Japanese Ships CVE Taiyo CA Nachi PG Kaikei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire AP Keiyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AP Manila Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire CL Jintsu Japanese ground losses: 25 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Vehicles lost 1 And what is this? The Taiho only under the defense of 8 zeros. Unfortunately 8 are enough to stop the brit flyers from landing any hits on the flat top. They do manage to get some of the APs though. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Chandpur at 30,25 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 2 G3M Nell x 7 G4M1 Betty x 13 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 6 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 3 damaged G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged Allied Ships DD Parrott DD Paul Jones DD Ellet DD Tjerk Hiddes DD Alden My fast transport to Akyab didn't met the incoming enemy Tf - they arrive in the day. They do manage to unload their supplies though. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Chandpur at 30,25 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 9 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 6 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 5 damaged Allied Ships DD Tjerk Hiddes DD Parrott, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Ellet THis one torp nearly breaks the Parrott's back she is not long for this world. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 28,29 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 8 Allied aircraft Blenheim I x 7 Blenheim IV x 31 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Blenheim I: 5 damaged Blenheim IV: 6 destroyed, 10 damaged Japanese Ships CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire MSW Choun Maru #6 DD Hatakaze At 1000 ft the Brits at last manage to plant a couple of bombs on the Taiho - PzB reports that they do little damage. From the comabt replay I would have to agree with one bomb failing to detonate and the other starting fires. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 3 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Russell Now it is the Lunga invasion... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 G3M Nell x 12 G4M1 Betty x 31 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed G3M Nell: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed, 19 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 20 destroyed, 4 damaged Allied Ships CA Canberra CL Perth CL Adelaide CL Leander CL Detroit CL Concord The real attempt incredibly sees no ships hit but 10 F4Fs hit the ocean. Some of the pilots are recovered but all in all not a very successful operation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 Jap Acs fall to 23 allied. That is an incredible result. I haven't managed to kill that many planes since sinking them on the carriers. Conversly the result is to make me retire the fighters from Kungchang. He will change his fighters to sweep and try and get rid of my pesky defenders, of course zeros will eb the weapon of choice. SO the hurries move back to Chungking to rest for a turn or two. In the bay of Bengal the aircraft are moved again - this time to Mandalay where sqd of Wirriways and the P-40s are set to try and escort mainly torpedo bombers against Akyab. I get more intel that he is aiming at Burmese targets so this is the crus of his next phase. If so I can really start putting the pressure on the South Pacific! Little else to add - we shall see what takes shape this turn. I am not entirely sure that Akyab is the only target for these set of attacks. I would really like to see the KB location again - it is amazing how much those ships make you sweat!

wobbly -> Goodbye RAF (11/11/2004 1:28:20 AM)
Is Chandpur his new target? Night bombing of Calcutta claims victims - but is not as bad as might have been. Lunga invasion continues. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/09/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 14 No Japanese losses Runway hits 10 Nothing at Chandpur to hit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 3 G4M1 Betty x 44 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Vildebeest IV: 8 destroyed, 8 damaged Blenheim I: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged Blenheim IV: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged Hurricane II: 1 destroyed Allied ground losses: 13 casualties reported Airbase hits 8 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 12 There is at Calcutta though and about 16 planes are destroyed on the ground. The all important pilots are OK and the planes are replaced in morning shipments. I move one of my recuperating hurricane sqds here and put it on night CAP. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 25 As expected he flies sweep against Kunchang after being stung yesterday. He will probably do this again as I have returned on the following day in the past - he will need time to flesh out the bomber sqds anyway. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 28 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 8 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 10 destroyed His sweep to Port Moresby is more effective, however I ahve over 20K supplies here now so the kittyhawks are replaced (albeit damaged). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on BFF Brigade, at 29,33 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 104 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 128 casualties reported Guns lost 5 OK - I have set up the trap for these guys today. Pagan is operational again and 17 P-40s are LRCAPing my units north of Rangoon. He has not been escorting these guys so I want to get amongst them with the P-40s if possible - weather is not looking good though. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 29,27 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 39 Allied aircraft Blenheim IV x 8 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Blenheim IV: 10 destroyed A few suicidal attacks against the KB. PzB and I had a discussion about night bombing. I have had issues with his port attacks and he has issues with my airfield bombing. The difference is that he catches the ships in port whether he attacks in the day or night. I cannot attack in the day. PzB has done the next turn and I can see that my bombers just get oblitereated against the zeros. If we don't have night bombing, what typoe of bombing will I be able to do? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 12 G4M1 Betty x 5 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships CL Concord CL Detroit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 24 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 21 destroyed, 10 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 damaged Allied Ships CL Perth CL Leander CA Canberra Betties and Nells reach out to touch the Lunga invasion - the Nells go it alone and loose a few of their ACs for their trouble. A few zeros are also knocked down - probably due to fatigue. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well I set up to hit his invasion of Chandpur with my airforce and a surface attack into Akyab. I can see from PzB's new turn that neither worked. Most specifically I loose the whole RAF to the KB's zeros and the fast transport mission do not engage the invasion force as it rushed in at night rather than arriving during the day when the invasion forces arrived. they then tried to retreat towards trimcommalee and got sunk by the KB. So not a good day. Well I added the next days combat report to this one and sent it to work only to have it not arrive. With both combat reports having the same name it must have confused the computer somhow. After loosing most of teh RAF I changed tacks and moved to Mandaly restricting the distance my bombers could fly so that they could only go after Akyab. They were to be escorted with Warhawks. PzB continues to land on Akyab and Chandpur's beaches. Chandpur has level 9 forts but Akyab is only level 2. I use dakotas to try and get a few more troops on there. Last turn I told most of the troops around Chandpur to head to Chandpur. I opened the new turn and foound not a single one had moved. Set them all to try again but this can't continue. I have teh 2nd UK div and 4 indian division, 1 more tank brigade, the six recovering artillery units and many engineering units on the way. I can't completely deplete Diamond Harbour, but behind level 9 walls this should be a good blocking force. The engineers especially will get on site to upgrade reduced walls as fast as they can- two of the coming units have bulldozers. The CL Marblehead, stuck in Chandpru harbour, ismaking a run fro Trimcommalee. This is under the waiting eyes of the KB. Like my DDs this is likely to end in tears. Operation Pedestal has started. This is the use of the Carrier Hermes, without it's planes, travelling back and forward between Oz and india with vital fighter units. As has become painfully obvious - RAF aircraft are ****e. I thought they would be better than Chinese but it doesn't appear so. In PM the B-17s are daylight raiding LAE to try and put the heat on. In Lunga the RCT is to attack the Japs there - this should mean I have a forward base in the Solomons. The South Dakota and the Califonia are now at Pearl repairing the damage done in upgrading their AAA. The Long Island is with them and it's first duty will be to bring in some Tomahawks. Back in the states the other ships that have upgraded are also repairing - very quickly too - nice to get them done in the States.

sveint -> RE: Goodbye RAF (11/11/2004 3:00:40 AM)
quote: As has become painfully obvious - RAF aircraft are ****e Don't despair - it's about the pilots not the planes. Every time you kill one of his pilots it's a victory - they won't be back. You've got lots of pilots to replace those you lose. Zeros with 30 exp pilots are no threat. [:)] Doing good Wobbly.

EUBanana -> RE: Goodbye RAF (11/11/2004 3:57:36 AM)
I thought the Hurricane seemed alright when I was playing the AI... seemed to do better than Airacobras and Wirraways are dire. Short range unfortunately, but good in combat. You seem to be doing alright, you been getting 3 to 1 kill ratio on some days in your favour. The India engagement has barely even begun, and your bleeding his airfarce already. Those 21 knot Brit WW1 BBs are worthless anyway IMHO.

Hornblower -> RE: Goodbye RAF (11/11/2004 4:25:36 AM)
just remember what they say about payback.... excellent aar, keep it up

wobbly -> short comments (11/11/2004 5:48:04 AM)
gentlemen of the staff - thanks for the input and votes of encouragement. I have not seen the turn yet but I do have the combat replay. A few things I note already - firstly this: Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 11 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7 Allied aircraft Blenheim I x 7 Blenheim IV x 26 P-40E Warhawk x 17 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Blenheim I: 5 destroyed Blenheim IV: 11 destroyed, 7 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged Japanese Ships CL Yubari DD Amagiri AP Tazan Maru CL Tatsuta ML Sokuten AP Tensyo Maru, Bomb hits 1 Japanese ground losses: 26 casualties reported Despite capable defensive fighter escort the bombers get hammered and only manage a single shipping bomb hit. As you say though sveint - every zero pilot I splash is one that will be replaced from the bottom of the heap. It is hard to know whether the pilots shot down were guns or replacement lemons though. In other news it looks like my ASW TF from Karachi has made it to hunting grounds around Ceylon - which is crawling with subs. Maybe Marblehead got away from the KB - no attacks in teh combat replay - that would be a great coup (well not that great but I am after anythin I can get). EUBanana - yeah the Brit BBs are not worth the steel used in their construction in this modern war. However, getting them caught behind the lines like I have is not a very good trick. Another problem is I now have 4 BBs in theatre all above 50% damage. They can't be returned if the Admiralty require it - so I will loose 2000PPs! PzB has attacked for the first time in Akyab, Chandpur and some other little base which he appears to have dropped Paras on. It will be bad enough to loose Akyab - I think that is inevitable - he got 2-1 on the first try and reduced the forts to two. In Chandpur he gets 2-1odds on the first try as well. This is despite facing 500 tanks and forts of size 9. This is a real worry. the cavalry is on its way but I did not expect him to get 1-1 let alone 2-1 odds - that is plan scary! The other little base looks like it is on the receiving end of a para drop. I may have to fly in reserves of my own. The brit bombers are just going to have to rest - they are shot (maybe we need to change the 'o' for an 'i'...) My Lunga deliberate attack is rebuffed handily: 0-1 odds - filthsome. I will have ti though - it is mine, my precious! Thanks for the encouragement Hornblower: I just bought 7 DVDs of your series - very good so far[:D]

wobbly -> Chandpur is in trouble (11/12/2004 11:41:55 PM)
THis war just does not calm down. OK folks, lots to talk about and a point of view I want to raise and see your opinion. Chandpur is in trouble - serious trouble. Paras land all over the place - not good. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/12/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Mannargudi at 16,23 Japanese Ships SS I-3 Allied Ships DD Jupiter, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Nestor DD Isis DD Fortune DD Bulmer DD Barker The torpedo detonates under the Jupiter's Keel snapping it like a twig. The ships sinks in less than 2 minutes and many hands are lost. The sub gets away in teh confusion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Chandpur, 30,25, firing at TF 9 TF 9 troops unloading over beach at Chandpur, 30,25 539 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships PG Chohakusan Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire AP Nitta Maru CA Nachi, Shell hits 5 AP Kurohime Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage DD Hatakaze DD Harukaze, Shell hits 2 Japanese ground losses: 1992 casualties reported Guns lost 13 Vehicles lost 9 The bug 9 inch coastal batteries are taking their toll of PzBs landing craft and also killing a few troops to boot. The Kurohime Maru sinks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 14,23 Japanese Ships SS I-15, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Barker DD Nestor DD Isis DD Fortune It's like fishing in a Barrel around Ceylon. He has so many subs there. The 5 remaning ASW DDs find another sub and this time the honours go to the destroyers - adios I-15. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 Allied aircraft I-153c x 8 I-16c x 7 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses I-153c: 12 destroyed I-16c: 6 destroyed When in doubt bring back the zeros - and damn it - I have forgotten to rest them! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 11 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 23 B-17E Fortress x 23 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged Runway hits 2 It appears the zeros at Lae are getting disconsolate and tired. The P-40s actually manage to win the day - 6 zeros are actually lost. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 6th NLF , at 67,97 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 SBD Dauntless x 63 TBD Devastator x 30 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 251 casualties reported Guns lost 1 The weather improves around Lunga and the carrier flyboys get a very good lick in against the japs holding Henderson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 1st Burma Brigade, at 29,33 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 8 Ki-21 Sally x 31 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 6 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27 Nate: 4 destroyed Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed Allied ground losses: 50 casualties reported Well at last my LRCAP over the northern blocking force by Rangoon manages to come off. The smash the nates and down a Sally but hardly anything to jump around about. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 102nd USA Regimental Combat Team, at 67,97 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 15 No Japanese losses I think he was hoping ot get some wildcats on LRCAP - no go - no ships to CAP. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Chandpur Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 74045 troops, 823 guns, 60 vehicles Defending force 18244 troops, 177 guns, 532 vehicles Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 7) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 7 Japanese ground losses: 371 casualties reported Guns lost 10 Vehicles lost 3 Allied ground losses: 1344 casualties reported Guns lost 71 Vehicles lost 25 That is a pretty devastating attack. I do have reinforcements on but I don't think they replenish that fast... both tank units have full compliment (although some are disabled)! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Akyab Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 22390 troops, 267 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 5214 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Akyab base !!! Japanese ground losses: 64 casualties reported Guns lost 4 Allied ground losses: 128 casualties reported Guns lost 4 Akyab falls and my forces retreat northwards. This closer airbase is going to prove a problem - his all conquering zeros will be far closer to the action now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Lunga Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 5198 troops, 58 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 1830 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0) Allied forces CAPTURE Lunga base !!! Japanese ground losses: 12 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 20 casualties reported Guns lost 2 So the Japs are forced off Hernderson field. It will now take an eternity to reduce their numbers and in truth he will probably manage to Fast transport most of the units out - I can't really stop that. To augment the successful invasion a supply TF and a base unit are being loaded in Brisbane. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Imphal Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 1035 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 936 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese ground losses: 10 casualties reported This is another of these paratroop drop on Imphal. The defenders do better here but I only have one Dakota unit and they are reinforcing Asansol - with its 480 heavy industry... So instead the P-40s are moved back up to cover Imphal. Of course he will ahve zeros ther and that will mean I don't stop anything and the base will be taken. He will find it pretty difficult to keep in supplies though as only the air transport will be able to get them in - not too many air missions will be able to be flown (I have used most of the supply in my own bombing raids). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Dimapur Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 1104 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 962 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Dimapur base !!! Japanese ground losses: 21 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 14 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Another of teh para raids works and he has another forward base. Half a Tank brigade is decending on these guys and I doubt they will be able to resist that. The B-17s and beuforts are lined up to crater the runways. He may hold it but I want to try and stop him from being able to use it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The problem I alluded to is the crossing of rivers and the disruption they incur. This is a good rule when applied against the attack. I can justify loosing cohesion when men cross a river in the face of well dug in machine guns and howitzers speciafically located to stop this. But in Chandpur I already hold the base, my reinforcements - flowing over the bridges I must be holding or else retreat is no option, and they are incurring this disruption rule. I had specifically retired my infantry and tank units to Calcutta to get away from the BBs and now I can't reinforce the defense of the city! I think that units should be given a classification of attacker if the move into a hex previously unoccupied by their own troops (but occupied by the enemy - who are the defender) and the river crossing penalty should only apply to them, not to reinforcement of the defender. OK, this is not going to be changed in a hurry so I just have to live with it. Knowing this what do you gentlemen think I should do? Chandpur has a fort level of 7 and falling. I can't send more units there unless I want them to arrive with a disruption much the same as being forced to retreat. So do I fall back to Dacca, gifting him a reinforcement location, port and airstrip, right on the Indian continent. Then start fortifying Dacca in earnest - forts only at 3. Any further attacks he starts will incur the same river crossing problem. Without being able to reinforce Chandpur it appears my plans were flawed and I cannot hope to deny it to him. In other news I send a TF to take 2 regiments of the 18th division - currently at Trimmcomalee to the mainland. In 2 turns I get 6 engineer units - they will have to get to the battle zone as fast as possible to put up forst that get smashed down - 3 have engineering vehicles! Operation Pedestal is making good headway - 2 kittyhawks sqds earmarked for movement. I have not been listing it but I have been reconning Wake from Midway using COranado (thanks for this titbit roguemc) and intel informs me he is reinforcing - nice. OK new operation - Rapier. This is the invasion of Kwajalein. He hasn't bought his carriers back to the Pacific yet so time to act. I have the 32nd and Americal divisions already in boats. The 25th Division from Hawaii is loading along with a base unit, marine raiders, a tank unit, III corp HQ and supplies. The 5 carriers are retiring to Noumea to replenish their fighter airwings and they will go. I will have a surface/bombardment group built around 5 BBs and 7 CAs. The long island will bring a wildcat sqd and a tomahawk sqd that will land on one of the smaller islands which is planned to be taken first with another RCT. If he wants to continue to concentrate on India he has to be ready to loose in the Pacific. Kwajalein has 12 units but I don't imagine he has enough firepower to resist 3 Divisions, 1 tank batt and the marine raiders!

EUBanana -> RE: Chandpur is in trouble (11/14/2004 1:35:58 AM)
Ooo, Royal Navy ships in combat against subs. I've never had a Brit warship drop a depth charge yet, the AI sends the subs to the coral sea. ASW is about the only thing the Royal Navy is good at. I think those J class destroyers have ASW 8.

wobbly -> Chandpur falls (11/16/2004 11:14:35 AM)
Back in Black. The mourning has started as Chandpur falls and decimates the units that are forced to retreat - unfortuantely that is a tank unit that wont move the 60 miles by rail they are supposed to be able to move. EUBanana: well they aren't any better than the Yanks in my game. I have one dead DD and another damaged (due to sub mines rather than torps I suppose) to one dead sub. Thats them up to me... AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/14/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Chandpur, 30,25, firing at TF 9 TF 9 troops unloading over beach at Chandpur, 30,25 342 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships DD Asakaze DD Matsukaze CA Nachi, Shell hits 4 AP Kiyozumi Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire AP Kansan Maru DD Harukaze, Shell hits 2 AP Igasa Maru Japanese ground losses: 730 casualties reported Well Chandpur gets it's last licks in before falling. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat at 29,27 Japanese Ships CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1 DD Chidori DD Manazuru DD Hatsukari DD Tomozuru MSW Banshu Maru #18 MSW Banshu Maru #52 MSW Choun Maru #18 PG Akitsu Maru PG Aso Maru PG Busho Maru PG Chitose Maru PC Ch 14 PC Ch 16 PC Ch 17 PC Ch 32 AP Kyosei Maru AP Kyuma Maru AP Meisho Maru AP Mikage Maru #2 AP Minowa Maru AP Minryo Maru AP Mitsu Maru #3 AP Neikai Maru AP Nichiryu Maru AP Nihonkai Maru AP Nissen Maru #3 AP Nojima Maru AP Otori Maru AP Shikano Maru AP Shinkoku Maru AP Shinwa Maru AP Shirogane Maru AP Shoho Maru AP Sumanoura Maru AP Sumiyoshi Maru AP Taganoura Maru AP Tainichi Maru AP Takuei Maru AP Takunan Maru AP Taian Maru AP Tama Maru #2 AP Tarushima Maru AP Tateyama Maru AP Tatsujin Maru AP Tenran Maru AP Tenryu Maru AP Tenzan Maru AP Toyo Maru #2 AP Tsuiba Maru Allied Ships DD Parrott, Shell hits 13, and is sunk Poor Parrott - sink in port or sink out of port. She takes the man's option and charges into the fray. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 No Japanese losses He sweeps Mandalay and gets nothing. This is often a precursor to a bombing raid so I move my bombers out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Imphal , at 33,26 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 23 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 6 P-40E Warhawk x 7 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 4 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged Nothing I can do makes a difference really. I tried to stop him from reinforcing his airdrops of Imphal but of course I can't do that against zeros. Imphal falls. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 22 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged My 2 units of hurricanes in China manage to hold their own against the zeros that come calling. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 28,26 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 54 D3A Val x 14 B5N Kate x 6 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Illinoian, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage This and another AK are hit as they try to run from Chandpur. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 15,23 Japanese Ships SS RO-63 Allied Ships MSW Ipswitch, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Having had DDs hit mines I moved a minesweeper to clean up the mess. It gets cleaned up instead. These subs are a menace - more DDs on the way to try and handle them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Chandpur Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 153909 troops, 1510 guns, 718 vehicles Defending force 13170 troops, 40 guns, 412 vehicles Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 5 Japanese assault odds: 27 to 1 (fort level 5) Japanese forces CAPTURE Chandpur base !!! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Hurricane II: 18 destroyed Japanese ground losses: 142 casualties reported Guns lost 6 Allied ground losses: 1341 casualties reported Guns lost 21 Vehicles lost 27 And there it is - Chandpur falls and 3 units are devastated as they retreat to Dacca. IN my haste to finish a turn before work this morning I did not move the Hurricanes defending it out. I loose a priceless squadron. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kungchang Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 65756 troops, 527 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 7372 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 161 casualties reported Guns lost 9 Allied ground losses: 109 casualties reported Guns lost 4 And look at this. The Chinese completely hopeless in the North. They will be confronted by a whole lot more than a single infantry Brigade soon enough. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Lunga Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 5072 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 1901 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 57 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 169 casualties reported Guns lost 3 There is nowhere on the map that can provide good news. I take more damge than I inflict on units with no supplies. So I will have to fall back on bomardments until I can get some bombers up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Imphal Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 2416 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 1236 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Imphal base !!! Japanese ground losses: 86 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 50 casualties reported Guns lost 2 With all the fighters smashed out of the sky by his zeros the transport planes easily make it in and Imphal falls. Only one way to get supplies through Burma now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well the Brits hunker down in Dacca. Two engineers are about 2 days out of Dacca and they should help (with their vehicles) to raise the forts faster. Dacca is now at level 4 with 24% of the next done. The trouble is I need level 7 and up forts. This turn I move a devastated tank unit and an Indian Division further away from the battle zone. They will need a month to get somewhere near functionality - unfortunately they wont have that long. The transport TF I sent to Trimcomalee has made it and begins loading two regiments of the 18th Division. They will move them back around to the Western side of India to unload. This turn I attack the little airbase he captured in the north. I have moved the Warhawks back to Calcutta along with most of the bombers, to hit the place first. I only have a very weak indain regiment on the attack so the bombers must do most of the suppression. I will say that I hold out little hope for India. I need to create many fortresses and make him pay for each of them. He is going to have to cross the river to get to Dacca. Each unit that does so is going to get devastated. It is the time I get while he waits for them to repair that I have to use wisely. Unfortunately he will have a bazillion bombers to hamper my life while I do this waiting. Luganville becomes operational with some Dauntlesses taking up residence. Little else of interest elsewhere. The Mississippi and the New Mexico put to sea bound for Pearl and Operation Rapier. The Idaho - newly arrived at SF - will join them.

herbieh -> RE: Chandpur falls (11/16/2004 10:43:18 PM)
This is a classic of two of the best players about going for it. Keep it up Who's nerve will crack 1st?

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